All Hallows was founded in 1909 by the Congregation of Christian Brothers. The order founded the school upon the principles of Blessed Edmund Rice, which center on providing moral and scholastic training, especially to the children of the poor. Originally located at 13-15 West 124th in Manhattan, the school moved to its current location in 1929. The school has more than 10,000 graduates. All Hallows was the first school founded by the Christian Brothers in the United States. For much of its history, All Hallows was an elementary school as well as a high school, but it has been exclusively the latter since 1977. When All Hallows was established in 1909 the school seal was carefully chosen by the Brother from Ireland. The American Eagleat the center of the seal represents the All Hallows Community's commitment to the United States. The wreath of laurel surrounding the seal refers to victory and achievement in both athletics and scholastics. The circle surrounding the eagle serves a reminder of the school's "continuing faith" and the four corners of the seal are represented by the Gaelic symbol for the continuation of life. The Latin phrase Pro fide et patria means For faith and country. All Hallows celebrated its centennial in 2009 and was honored with its own street name change to All Hallows Way as a parting gift from the Class of 2012. The school was also visited by Mary McAleese, the former president of Ireland, during the 2012-2013 school year.
Sports and activities
All Hallows students participate in more than 40 sports and activities; these include the All Hallows Players, the newspaper, the chess team, Big Brothers, as well as "El Club Latino". Students also have various opportunities to join clubs such as student government, the Sports Bowl, the Montefiore Medical Center Program, and intramural sports. All Hallows has a much decorated history with athletic awards all across the senior hallway and the lobby. The ore recent string of accomplishments began in Spring 2006, when the varsity baseball team won a Catholic High School Athletic Association championship, and, in Winter 2007, when the Freshmen basketball team also won a CHSAA championship. The All Hallows J.V. Bowling team won the CHSAA division championship in 2011 for the second straight year. All Hallows has twice been the Bronx champions on the televised team academic game show "The Challenge" on MSG Varsity. The teams are called The Gaels, although the mascot-emblem looks more like a leprechaun wielding a shillelagh.
The All Hallows Foundation
In 1997, graduates of the school set up The All Hallows Foundation, a 501 organized for the purpose of supporting the school and the surrounding neighborhood. The board of directors for the All Hallows Foundation is composed primarily of All Hallows graduates who have achieved notable success in fields such as finance, technology, law, and television. The Foundation provides funds for a scholarship fund that allows talented, but impoverished young men to attend All Hallows. It also supports facility renovations and improvements, a faculty endowment and community outreach programs. Philip J. Eagan, the board chairman of the All Hallows Foundation applies his background in finance to bring "a bold, entrepreneurial, and creative approach to inner city education.” In December 2006, the Foundation received an anonymously donated check for $2 million. The donation was made by a graduate of the school.
